Eight facts about acupuncture

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Mar 10, 2014 / 5:00 am

When you hear the word Acupuncture what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? For most people it's something random like needles, China, mysterious, strange, or my brother tried that once. Sadly this is hardly an in depth understanding of one of the world's oldest medicines. So when the time comes and you are looking for an Acupuncturist how do you pick the right one? Here are eight things you didn’t know about Acupuncture to help with your decision-making.

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1. Acupuncture treats MORE then pain.

A very common misconception of Acupuncture is that it is only useful for the treatment of pain, and while pain is the most common complaint of people seeking Acupuncture it is only a small aspect of what Acupuncture can actually treat. Practitioners solely trained in Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine known as: Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac), Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP), and Doctors of Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM) have the training to effectively treat a variety of illnesses, injuries and diseases. All Chinese Medicine Registered Acupuncturists (R.Ac), Practitioners (R.TCMP) and Doctors (Dr.TCM) have extensive training in the treatment of both internal and external medicine and are able to provide quality treatment of: Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, Cardiovascular, Nervous System, Urinary, Reproductive, Sleep, Emotional/Psychological, Muscular, Skeletal, and Skin Disorders to name a few.

2. All Acupuncture is NOT the same.

Every person that practices Acupuncture whether it is a Registered Acupuncturist/ Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Doctor of Chinese Medicine Physiotherapist, Registered Nurse, Medical Doctor, Naturopath or Dentist will have their own style and treatment approach depending on their Acupuncture training and educational background. Therefore treatment time, approach, technique, scope, ability, and effectiveness will vary from practitioner to practitioner.

3. Everyone that practices Acupuncture does NOT have the same amount of training.

Due to its clinical effectiveness Acupuncture has gained statue and recognition in the west among numerous healthcare practitioners. While it is excellent to see other practitioners across the medical field embrace Acupuncture and add it to their portfolios, practitioners trained solely in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine require a different level of extensive training. As an example: a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) is required to have 3,000 hours of Acupuncture training, a Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP) 4,000 hours and a Doctor of Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM) 5000 hours of Acupuncture training. On top of that all three levels of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine practitioners are required to pass National Board Certification exams in order to practice Acupuncture in Canada. Typically, Physiotherapists, Registered Nurses, Dentists and Medical Doctors that perform Acupuncture in Canada receive 100-200 hours of training with The Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (AFCI).

4. Acupuncture needles are about as fine as a human hair.

Average diameters of Acupuncture needles are from 0.18mm to 0.25mm.

Photo: Contributed

5. Acupuncture is NOT painful.

A lot of new patients often come into their first treatment nervous about Acupuncture, but after the session they often confess how painless the treatment was and how well they were able to relax. In an average treatment of 15 – 20 needles a patient usually feels or reacts to 3 – 4 needle insertions. Sensitivity can differ from person to person depending on emotional state, and in women during menstruation.

6. Acupuncture can be used to INDUCE labor and TURN a breached fetus at eight months.

Acupuncture treatments with a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac), Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP), and Doctors of Chinese Medicine (Dr. TCM) are completely or partially covered by most work and extended healthcare plans. MSP Premium assistance covers $23.00 per treatment up to a maximum of 10 treatments per year.

If you have any question about Acupuncture or would like to share your Acupuncture experiences please feel free to contact me via email [email protected] or at the office (250) 860-2212.

Ryan Samuels is a Registered Acupuncturist and Chinese Medical Herbalist (R.Ac, R.TCMP) at KLO Chiropractic Centre in Kelowna. He holds a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine diploma, and has a special interest in the treatment of digestive issues, neuropathy, acute & chronic pain, sports injuries, and migraines. All treatments with Ryan are individualized and designed around your current physical and mental well being.